Get over CAT, it's time to crack the SNAP!

After the Common Aptitude Test, and just before the equally popular XAT (XLRI Aptitude Test), it’s time for MBA aspirants to get ready for the other big management entrance exam, Symbiosis National Aptitude (SNAP) Test, which is being held on December 16.

SNAP is the written test for admission to all the 14 post- graduate institutes that come under the umbrella of the Symbiosis International University. Out of the 150 questions, three sections: General English, Quantitative Aptitude and General Awareness have 40 questions each and 30 are in Logical Reasoning.

The test duration is 120 minutes and a quarter of a mark is deducted per wrong answer.
SIU has 14 institutes, but those relevant for aspiring managers are Symbiosis Institute of Business Management, Symbiosis Centre for Management and Human Resource Development and Symbiosis Institute of International Business.

“Unlike CAT and XAT, SNAP is more like a speed test,” says Arks Srinivas, CEO, VistaMind Education, a Bangalore- based national online coaching centre for management entrance exams. “ The 150 questions are worth 180 marks and they have to be answered in 120 minutes. Compare this with 60 questions of CAT, to be answered in 140 minutes, and the stark difference becomes apparent.” Thankfully, the entrance test doesn’t have cut- offs per section. “ The maximum marks are for the Logical Reasoning section,” Srinivas continues.

“So when you divide the available time for the four sections, you must take care to divide it according to the marks per section and not the number of questions.” “ A recommended strategy for the exam is to dedicate 25, 35, 40 and 15 minutes respectively for General English, Quatitative Aptitude, Logical Reasoning and General Awareness.

This leaves you with a buffer of five minutes for re- checking,” Srinivas adds.
When you prepare for the SNAP, it is important for you to get out of the CAT mindset. The point about CAT is that there’s less pressure on time and the emphasis is greater on accuracy. In SNAP, however, speed is critical. Another point of difference is the inclusion of General Awareness which includes questions on current affairs and the business scenario.

Also, it is a paper and pencil test, unlike CAT, so it is important for you to start practising on paper to get back your touch. But in your hurry, don’t resort to uninformed guesswork because of negative marking — four wrong answers and you end up losing one additional mark.

“To get a call from the Symbiosis Institute of Business Management,” says Srinivas, “ you must score above 100. That means you need to answer at least 125 questions with 80 per cent accuracy.” And how do you achieve this accuracy? Take the Mock SNAPs in the days leading up to the entrance test, so that you are up to speed on the management of time.

When you prepare for SNAP, it is very important for you to get out of the CAT mindset.